It’s out with the old and in with the new for Independence TV, Clarkston’s public access studio. For approximately $200,000 in PEG (Public, Education, and Government) fees, Program Manager Joe Barnhart was able to remodel the studio and purchase new equipment.

Barnhart hopes the upgrades will encourage locals to use the public access studio and “get creative,” he said. From his point of view, the new gear belongs to the citizens; “we’re here to help them use it.”

Some of the new equipment residents can access includes cameras they can rent to use for filming, computer for graphics, video switcher, microphones, and audio board. All the new equipment can record high definition video too, said Barnhart. Independence TV has also purchased larger hard drives, which will allow them to store more video files.

Barnhart expects the equipment to help Independence TV connect with AT&T U-Verse, create full studio programs, and live-stream videos. Overall, the new gear has simply made developing productions “easier and quicker,” said Barnhart.

Because Independence TV has new equipment, they’re running out of space to store some of their old gear. Currently, much of it is kept in storage units, but Barnhart intends to dust it off and sell it.

According to Barnhart, the revenue from the sale will be “rolled right back” to Independence TV.

Scott Banks, media teacher at Clarkston High School, already has his sights set on some cameras. After presumptive Supervisor Pat Kittle saw Barnhart’s list of old gear, he contacted CHS where he knew students were seeking equipment.

Kittle feels working with the school will “save money for the township and benefit the township as a whole.” He’s hoping students “can tape things downtown that would showcase our great community,” Kittle said.

Clerk Barb Pallotta agrees. “It was a good gesture to see if [the school] wanted it for their media program,” she said. Barnhart is pleased Kittle thought of it too and looks forward to an opportunity to get “cameras in students’ hands.”

Now that Independence TV has upgraded its studio and hardware, Barnhart intends to start classes for interested citizens, and he hopes to continue purchasing devices such as lights and editing equipment to improve the public access programming.